October

AppWizard
October 19, 2026
The Kerala High Court is addressing concerns regarding the open-source messaging application BitChat, which gained popularity during the internet shutdowns in Delhi in July 2026. The app operates over Bluetooth and does not require an internet connection. In October, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology ordered the blocking of BitChat, leading to its removal from app stores by Apple and Google in India. The Appropriate Technology Promotion Society has filed a legal challenge against this decision. During a recent hearing, the court instructed several ministries and representatives from Apple and Google to submit affidavits regarding the app's blocking. The court is considering the maintainability of the petition and has scheduled the next hearing for November 11.
AppWizard
October 19, 2026
Microsoft will remove eight titles from Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass on October 31, 2025. The departing games are: - Day of the Tentacle Remastered - Deep Rock Galactic - Dead Static Drive - Full Throttle Remastered - Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris - LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga - Wartales - Wildgate Players will need to purchase these titles separately to retain access after their removal. Completion times for achievements in the outgoing titles vary, with Day of the Tentacle Remastered and Full Throttle Remastered taking about three hours each, Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris around 15 hours, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga between 80 and 100 hours, Wartales approximately 150 to 200 hours, and Deep Rock Galactic between 300 to 500 hours. There is insufficient data for Wildgate and Dead Static Drive.
AppWizard
October 19, 2026
Beyond These Stars is a city-building game where players construct settlements on the back of a space whale named Kewa. Players manage resources, build pathways, and maintain the whale's health and happiness. A demo at PAX 2026 included a tutorial and gameplay focused on expanding settlements and nurturing the relationship with Kewa. The game features a charming aesthetic with 3D modeling and a hexagonal grid layout, making resource identification and navigation intuitive. Beyond These Stars is set to launch on October 17, 2026, on Steam.
Winsage
October 18, 2026
Microsoft is transforming the Windows Search feature in Windows 11 to improve speed, accuracy, and utility. The new experience will allow users to perform tasks directly from the Taskbar and will include file previews, enriched web results, and integration with Copilot. A preview is available through the Windows Insider Program, with more features expected later this year and deeper integration with the Start menu planned by 2027. The introduction of WinUI 3 will enhance performance and search accuracy. Users can perform actions like switching to Dark mode, enabling Bluetooth, adjusting volume levels, and arranging windows directly from the Search box. Future updates will include inline file previews and richer web results, with AI-generated responses for certain queries through Copilot integration. The new Windows Search experience is accessible to Insiders running specific builds and can be enabled manually if not visible after installing the latest preview build. It does not require a Copilot+ PC or an NPU, as it uses a small machine-learning model that operates locally. Currently, it cannot perform actions on connected phones, but a feature for sending text messages is in development. The redesigned interface will be smaller and include inline previews and richer file details, along with comprehensive web results. Filters will be introduced to refine search results by category. The rollout for Insiders began on October 7, 2026, with plans for richer search results and Copilot integration later this year, and the new Search experience is expected to be incorporated into the Start menu by 2027. A general availability date for all Windows 11 users has not been announced.
Winsage
October 18, 2026
Microsoft Windows Production PCA 2011, the certificate for signing the Windows boot loader, will expire on October 19, 2026. This follows the earlier expiration of two other 2011 certificates in June 2026. PCs without the new certificates will still boot and receive standard updates but will miss out on new security enhancements for the early boot process. The new certificates from 2023 are replacing the 2011 certificates. The KEK certificate, essential for authorizing updates to signature databases, and the Microsoft UEFI CA 2011, which signs third-party boot loaders, will also be replaced by new certificates. Users can check their Secure Boot status through the System Information tool or Windows Security. Microsoft is gradually rolling out the new Secure Boot certificates through Windows Update, and users are advised not to disable Secure Boot to avoid complications. Dell will not issue BIOS updates for platforms that reached their end of service life before January 1, 2026. The transition to Secure Boot has faced challenges for older PCs, and developers are advised against pinning Secure Boot certificates in their applications. Multiple restarts may be required for full integration of the new certificates.
Winsage
October 17, 2026
Windows 11 has introduced an "accelerated app launch" feature, initially benefiting Microsoft Edge. This feature allows Windows to open Edge more quickly by routing requests directly to the existing instance of the app instead of starting a new temporary process. The update, KB5127936, was rolled out to Windows Insiders on October 16, 2026, and is part of updates for Windows 11 25H2 and 26H2. The enhancement primarily improves the launch speed of Edge when it is already running in the background, particularly benefiting warm launches. Testing showed that Edge launched faster when other applications were active post-update. Microsoft aims to extend this feature to other single-instance applications, but it requires developers to meet specific prerequisites and request access to certain APIs. The accelerated launch feature is expected to be available as an optional update around November 10, 2026.
Winsage
October 17, 2026
On October 13, 2026, Microsoft released security updates for Windows Server that unintentionally affected Microsoft Exchange Server, causing significant disruptions approximately 24 hours after installation. Users reported issues such as database services failing, resulting in unresponsive email and Outlook Web Access access. Microsoft acknowledged the problem and is investigating it. The updates targeted supported Windows Server and Microsoft Exchange versions 2016, 2019, and SE. By October 15, reports of severe issues, including the inability to connect to the server and halted email delivery, emerged. The error message associated with the disruption is "MapiExceptionMdbOffline: Unable to make connection to the server. (hr=0x80004005, ec=1142)." Despite these issues, the Exchange Admin Center still showed databases as connected and mounted. Unofficial workarounds, including a registry edit and a PowerShell script, have been suggested to mitigate the problems.
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